HINGHAM - December 2 - The Hingham Select Board unanimously voted to maintain the town’s single property tax rate for fiscal year 2026, rejecting a split rate that would have slashed residential taxes by 6 percent while increasing commercial taxes by roughly 50 percent.

PLYMOUTH - December 2 - The Plymouth Select Board voted unanimously to support Father Bill’s & MainSpring’s application for state funding to build a $14 million housing resource center that would provide 30 emergency shelter beds and 16 permanent supportive housing units at the First Baptist Church property on Court Street, transforming the town’s seasonal, overnight-only homeless shelter into a year-round, 24-hour facility with wraparound services.

KINGSTON - December 2 - The Kingston Board of Selectmen promoted Officer Michael Gallo to the rank of police sergeant during their December 2nd meeting, one of several ceremonial and administrative actions taken as the town prepares for its 300th anniversary celebration in 2026.

ROCKLAND - December 2 - The Rockland Select Board unanimously approved a single tax rate of $13.87 per thousand dollars of property valuation for Fiscal Year 2026 on Tuesday, marking a 7.5% increase in the average single-family tax bill to $7,603, up from $7,072 last year.

HANOVER - December 8 - Hanover residents voted to adopt a Multi-Family Overlay District at Hanover Crossing on Monday night, bringing the town into compliance with the state’s MBTA Communities Act just weeks before a December 31 deadline that threatened state funding and local control over zoning decisions.

SCITUATE - December 2 - In a major financial victory for Scituate taxpayers, the Select Board voted unanimously on December 2 to award a $45 million general obligation bond at a 3.23% interest rate — significantly lower than the 4.75% rate estimated when voters approved the projects.

MARSHFIELD - December 2 - The Marshfield School District has eliminated almost 20 full-time positions and reduced its payroll by $1.64 million over the past two years through attrition, school officials revealed Tuesday, as administrators prepare for what could be contentious budget negotiations with town leadership amid what they called a “false narrative” about school spending.

COHASSET - December 2 - Cohasset’s finances are tracking well through the first quarter of fiscal year 2026, with revenues and expenses in line with projections and the town maintaining its strong fiscal position that supports its AAA bond rating, according to a detailed financial presentation delivered to the Select Board on December 2.

HANSON - December 2 - The Hanson Select Board unanimously approved an all-alcoholic beverage liquor license for Southern Eats LLC, operating as Fetch BBQ.

PEMBROKE - December 2 - The Pembroke School Committee received its first look at the fiscal year 2027 maintenance of effort budget on Tuesday, with Superintendent Erin Obey presenting a projected increase of $823,679 over the current year’s budget.

HALIFAX - December 2 - Halifax has committed to joining Kingston and Plympton in a regional mental health clinician co-response program, allocating nearly $10,000 from opioid settlement funds to help purchase a mobile trailer that will serve as office space for the collaborative initiative.

HULL - December 1 - The Hull School Committee engaged in a lengthy debate about graduation requirements for the classes of 2026 and 2027, with members expressing serious reservations about requiring final exam scores as part of competency determination just hours after Governor Maura Healey released interim guidance on graduation standards statewide.

DUXBURY - December 1 - The Duxbury Selectboard unanimously accepted a donation from Duxbury Youth Baseball on December 1st to install new batting cages at the Keene Street Baseball Fields, continuing the organization’s tradition of funding capital improvements for the town’s youth sports facilities.

HANOVER - December 1 - In a significant move to ensure fiscal sustainability, the Hanover Select Board is poised to adopt a comprehensive new financial policy designed to make the town’s 2025 override last through fiscal year 2032 without requiring additional tax increases.

KINGSTON - December 1 - The Kingston School Committee reviewed a preliminary FY27 budget of $16.3 million for the elementary schools on Monday evening, representing a 4.82% increase over the current year.

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HANSON - December 3 - The Whitman-Hanson Regional School Committee voted unanimously Wednesday night to establish an audit exploratory subcommittee, continuing the board’s response to the fiscal crisis that forced elimination of 30 staff positions in November.

WEYMOUTH - December 1 - The Weymouth Town Council unanimously approved a $7.5 million borrowing measure to fund critical upgrades to the Wharf Street Sewer Pump Station, a project designed to prevent future sewer overflows following a recent serious incident.

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PLYMOUTH - December 1 - The Plymouth School Committee heard from dozens of residents on both sides of a contentious debate over comprehensive sex education for eighth graders, ultimately reaffirming support for the new curriculum while committing to greater transparency after concerns were raised about parental access to materials.

DEDHAM - December 1 - Governor Maura Healey released interim recommendations Monday for a comprehensive overhaul of Massachusetts high school graduation requirements, proposing a seven-part framework to ensure every student graduates prepared for college, career, and civic life.

MARSHFIELD - December 1 and 2 - The Select Board interviewed two town administrator finalists December 2 but declined to make an immediate hiring decision, instead scheduling a special meeting for December 10 to allow time for deliberation on what Chair Eric Kelley called “a big decision” that “should not be rushed.”

BROCKTON - December 3 - Massachusetts Inspector General Jeffrey S.